CVE-2017-9755 in binutils
Summary
by MITRE
opcodes/i386-dis.c in GNU Binutils 2.28 does not consider the number of registers for bnd mode, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (buffer overflow and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted binary file, as demonstrated by mishandling of this file during "objdump -D" execution.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9755 resides within the GNU Binutils 2.28 distribution, specifically in the i386-dis.c file responsible for disassembling x86 instruction opcodes. This flaw represents a critical buffer management issue that affects the objdump utility's ability to process malformed binary files. The vulnerability occurs when the disassembler encounters binary data that contains instructions in bound mode, where the processor operates with explicit bounds checking for memory operations. The root cause lies in the insufficient validation of register count parameters during the disassembly process, specifically when handling bnd mode instructions that require specific register specifications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability manifests through a buffer overflow condition that occurs when objdump attempts to process a crafted binary file containing malformed bnd mode instructions. During the disassembly operation, the i386-dis.c module fails to properly validate the number of registers specified in bound mode instructions, leading to an unchecked buffer write operation. This overflow can result in memory corruption that ultimately causes the application to crash or terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered remotely through the processing of malicious binary files, making it a significant concern for security professionals who handle untrusted binary data.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-9755 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially encompass more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution in certain scenarios. When objdump processes the malformed binary, the buffer overflow can corrupt adjacent memory regions, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate program execution flow or overwrite critical data structures. This vulnerability affects the broader security ecosystem as objdump is a fundamental tool used by system administrators, security researchers, and developers for analyzing binary files. The attack surface is particularly wide since any application or process that invokes objdump on untrusted input could be vulnerable to this exploit, making it a critical concern for automated security scanning tools and binary analysis systems.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes "Stack-based Buffer Overflow", and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through command-line interfaces. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate bounds checking in the disassembler's instruction parsing logic, which violates fundamental security principles for memory management. Organizations using GNU Binutils 2.28 should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of the software, implementing proper input sanitization for binary files, and deploying additional security controls such as sandboxed execution environments for processing untrusted binary data. The vulnerability underscores the importance of rigorous code review processes and comprehensive testing for security-critical components like disassemblers that handle potentially malicious input from external sources.
The remediation approach for CVE-2017-9755 requires immediate patching of GNU Binutils to version 2.29 or later where the buffer overflow handling has been corrected. System administrators should also implement input validation measures for any automated processes that utilize objdump or similar disassembler tools. Additional protective measures include deploying network segmentation to limit access to systems that process binary files, implementing file type validation before disassembly operations, and maintaining regular security updates for all system components that handle binary data processing. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper memory management in security-sensitive applications and the potential for seemingly benign tools to become attack vectors when proper input validation is absent.